Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1887-09-02
VASSALBORO SUFFERS.
The School Buildings of Oak
Grove Seminary in Ashes.
One Pupil, Stephen G. Jones, Jr., Loses
His Life in the Fire.
The Loss Estimated at Fifteen Thousand
Dollars.

Dollars.
Early yesterday morning the handsome
and substantial school building of Oak Grove
Seminary, located in handsome grove of
oaks and evergreens, mile east from the
railroad station at Getchelrs Corner, were
entirely destroyed by fire, and to add to the
seriousness of the unfortunate event, one in
mate, pupil of the institution, thirteen years
of age, named Stephen G. Jones, Jr., lost bis
life in the flames.
Oak Grove Seminary was an institution be-
longing to
The Society of Friends
and has been established at Vassalboro for
many years, and not only the sons and
daughters Of members of the society have
been educated there, but pupils for miles
around and from distant points here found an
opportunity to obtain knowledge and book
learning. The school has always been in
very careful hands and has obtained an ex-
cellent reputation.
has suffered from the flames. Three years
ago last spring it received hard blow when
The Old School Building
was destroyed by fire, and the loss financially
was heavy one. But the Friends are thrifty
and persevering people, and measures were
shortly taken to rebuild. Mr.. Charles fl.
Jones of New Hampshire, a well known and
efficient instructor, took charge of the insti-
tuition becoming principal and manager, and
through his determined and painstaking
efforts, funds for new school building were
obtained, and the work of rebuilding was
commenced. Two years ago this fall the
structure was completed, ard the school re-
opened with some fifty pupils.
The New Building
was 40 ft.x60, three stories in height. The
upper story was used as a dormitory for boy
pupils, the second for girls and the ground
the basement was the heating apparatus of
the building, twenty cords of wood on
the east side and fifty tons of
coal on the west. The sold boarding
house." as it was called, was located just north
of the new building, was the same size and
connected to it by a passageway. The upper
floors were employed for sleeping rooms, and
the lower for kitchen, dining, sitting rooms,
etc. The principal and his family resided in
this building and some fifteen pupils lodged
there, while in the new building there were
about twenty five dodgers, all scholars. The
total number of pupils in the two buildings
was not less than forty. Both were construct
ed of wood.
The Ia.l term opened one week ago last
Tuesday and there was promise of the
Most Prosperous school Year
ever enjoyed by the Seminary. On Wednesday
the attendance was ninety.tw from thirt n
to twenty three years of age, and enough
were coming in at once to raise the number
to over one hundred Everything
ran smoothly until early yesterday morning
1t was about o'clock A. NJ. when two of the
boys sleeping in the upper dormitory of the
new building were awakened by a sitting
sensation. caused by smoke. They immedi-
ately arose and opened the door of their
room leading to the corridor, and they found
the air heavily charged with smoke, coming
from whence they knew not. They at once
raised the cry of "fre," which WAS taken up
by others and carried through the buildings in
a few moments. Principal Jones rushed out
of doors only to find the east end of the new
building in
A sheet Of Flames,
and he saw at once that all attempts TO save
the structure would be unavaiing accordingly
he at once gave his attention to rescuing
the inmates. Those in the old house had
plenty of time to escape, but in the new it
was a question of life or death. The upper
rooms were sitting with smoke, and in the
darkness it was difficult TO find the way out.
Luckily there were two stairways, one on
the east side, and another opposite The